And the LORD said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time, I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family - from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore ...  Read More

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days, the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions...The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; go bac...  Read More

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God. You will be changed from the ...  Read More

One day, Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon.Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.Peter looked straight at him as did John; Then Peter said, “Look at us.!”So...  Read More

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, the “Amen” is said by us to the glory of God. “         2 Corinthians 1:20 God has made numerous promises in the Bible that are meant to bring transforming blessings into our lives as we walk obediently with Him.But, for these promises to become realities, certain things must happen. Here are three of them...  Read More

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;Do not forsake the works of Your Hands.    Psalm 138:8 This is a message that grips my heart because I have every reason to believe that the LORD desires to perfect that which concerns His children.God created a perfect world which was subsequently marred by sin. But He sent Jesus His Perfect Son to redeem us and set...  Read More

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says:... “Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?... I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever. But now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me, I will honor, but those who despise me will be dis...  Read More

Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD. Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how ...  Read More

Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies . . .  there is no Rock like our God.  . . . She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts...  Read More

After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this ch...  Read More

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.  Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD's house. In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, "LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him...  Read More

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah . . .  He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh . . . Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking he...  Read More